Apparatus for handling containers



June 13, 1950 G. E. HUBE ETAL 2,511,266

. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING cou'mmaas Filed Dec. 13, 1945 I 5 Sheets-Sheet1 GOTTFRIEDERWIN HUBE IVAN' FREDRIK FINSBERG Attorneys June 13, 1950 e.E. HUBE E'l'AL APPARATUS FOR mums com'umzs 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.13, 1945 Attorneys June 13, 1950 s. E. HUBE ETAL 2,511,266

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 15, 1945 w 5 sheets-sheet s'r" L I Inventors GOTTFRIED ERWIN HUBE IVAN FREDRIK FINSBERG AttorneysJune 13, 1950 s. E. 'HUBE ErAl. 2,511,266

APPARA'IUS FOR HANDLING cou'mmms Filed Dec. 13, 1945 5 Sheets-Shet 4Inventors GOTTFRIED ERWIN HUBE IVAN FREDRIK FINSBERG June13, 1950 YG.E.HUBE HAL 2,511,266

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CONTAINERS Fi led Dec. 13, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5|34 Inventors 'GoTTfRiED ERWIN HUBE U '26 [28 J IVANFREDRIK FINSBERG 6iii/$164k.

FIG. 16. Attorneys Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEham,

Wash., assignors to Pacific American Fisheries, Inc., South Bellingham,Wash., a corporation of Delaware Application December 13, 1945, SerialNo. 634,784

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for handling anddeploying containers such as cans of food and the like for furthertreatment of the containers. The invention is in the form of an assemblyof mechanisms which receives the containers packaged in cartons, removesthe containers from the cartons, and then conveys them to the apparatusfor further treatment of the containers. The apparatus for furthertreatment referred to may be a machine for painting or for labeling thecontainers, or for any other treatment which may require the containersto be handled individually. The construction of the machine or apparatusis such that minimum attendance of an operator is required, nearly allof the steps of the method being automatically accomplished.

Fibre cartons and ordinary cylindrical tin cans are used herein toillustrate the methods and operation of the machine. It will beapparent, however, that the invention is applicable to individualcontainers other than tin cans and to packages other than fibre cartons,specific changes being contemplated to suit the material being handled.While the machine is designed to handle cartons of 48 one pound cans,enlargement or reduction of the mechanism will permit handlingcontainers of greater capacity, or cartons having more or less than 48cans.

After containers have been packaged into cartons, for instance, instacked relation comprising rows of containers having more than onetier, with the containers of an upper tier supported on the containersof a lower tier, it may be necessary to remove the containers from thecartons and to deploy them in such a manner as to conveniently presentthem individually to a painting machine, labeling machine, or the like.

Obviously, it would be extremely difficult and time consuming to performthe above operations by hand, and we have evolved methods and designedthe machine described herein to accomplish these operationsmechanically, and with a minimum of individual or collectivemanipulation of the containers by hand. In general, the method comprisesfeeding the cartons to the machine with the stacked containers thereinin upright position, opening the tops of the cartons prior to, or asthey approach the machine, mechanically inverting the cartons to stackthe containers on a table, moving the containers on a suitable conveyorwhile separating the containers into rows of more than one tier,separating the containers of upper tiers from those of lower tiers toform individual lines, thereafter twisting the individual containersfrom upright to horizontal position and then individually rolling thecontainers through a further portion of their path of movement to themachine where they are individually treated as by painting and labeling.By reason of the methods and apparatus which we have developed, it iseconomically practical to treat great quantities of containers whichhave already been packaged in cartons, boxes, or the like, and aftertreatment they may be again assembled in cartons or boxes and marketed.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention, and which are not intended to restrict the same to anyprecise form:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the complete machine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the complete machine.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the upper or initial half of the machine.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the upper part of the machinetaken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top planview of the lower or final half of the machine.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the final half of the machine, takenalong the line 6-6 01' Figure 5.

Figure '7 is an isometric view of the can-tilting portion of theconveyor.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the plate which forms the platform for theupper tiers of containers.

Figure 9 is an edge view of the plate shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view along the line III-l0 of Figure 7looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is an isometric view of the carton transfer and invertingapparatus.

Figure 12 is a detail view of the manner in which the connecting legs ofthe receiving and discharge cradles of the carton transfer and invertingdevice are pivoted.

Figures 13 through 16 are diagrammatic views showing the operation ofthe carton transfer and inverting apparatus.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate substantially the entire operation of themachine. A suitable conveyor l0 brings the cartons to a transfer andinverting station A. While the cartons are being conveyed to station A,the tops of the cartons may be opened and the top flaps folded aside inany suitable manner. The conveyor in may be intermittently orcontinuously power operated in any well-known manner. The terminal endof the conveyor I delivers to the first or receiving table l2 of thecarton transfer and inverting mechanism, the construction and operationof which are illustrated in Figures 11 through 16 inclusive. At thestation A, and in a manner hereinafter described, the cartons areinverted onto a second or discharge table l4, and are stacked thereon inseveral rows, depending on the size of the cartons, each row comprisingcontainers in upper and lower tiers, the containers being in uprightposition and stacked one upon another in the usual manner in which theyare found in conventional cartons.

From the table 14, the containers are moved onto a plurality of runwaysof the conveyor B, either by hand or by suitable mechanism, the conveyorcomprising the usual endless belt arrangement, there being a belt foreach row of containers received from the table I4. The conveyor B may beoperated by suitable continuous or intermittently operated powermechanism. In this conveyor, means are providedto separate the rows ofcontainers having more than one tier, as they are conveyed towardstation C.

At station C, means are provided to separate the upper tiers ofcontainers from their lower tiers, thus further deploying the containersinto individual lines. The lines of containers are thereafter moved to astation D where, by conventional means, the individual containers areturned or twisted from upright to horizontal rolling position, and theythereafter drop into a final conveyor section E through which they rollto the discharge end of the apparatus. At the discharge end, thecontainers finally enter a machine F which may be of conventional formfor the further treatment which is to be performed.

More specifically, the containers may arrive on the conveyor ID incartons having four longitudinal rows of containers, each row comprisingtwo tiers, the respective containers of the upper tier being positionedon those of thelower tier in upright relation. At the station A, thecartons of containers are inverted, the containers of the carton beingstacked on the table l4 in the same manner as described above, that is,in four rows of two tiers each. From station A, the whole bulk of thecontainers of a carton are moved onto the conveyor B, and as thisconveyor consists of four belts with suitable separating walls, the containers are definitely separated into four individual rows. At station Cand by means hereinafter described, the upper tiers are separated fromthe lower tiers, thus forming eight separate lines of containers. Thecontainers of the eight lines are twisted in the well-known manner atstation D and they then roll into the final conveyor section B wherethey are reformed into four lines of containers rolling on theirhorizontal axes. The containers are dropped or fed into the painting orother treating machine individually and in four lines.

While we have illustrated a machine designed to operate on cartons ofcontainers as described above, it may be made to accommodate cartonscontaining a greater or lesser number of containers, or containersarranged in the cartons in a dlflerent manner from that described.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4, the conveyor B is mounted on suitablesupporting standards l8 and comprises four separate belts 20 which aresupported in the container runways by freely mounted rollers 22laterally pivoted between side plate 24 of the structure. As indicatedin Figures 1 and 4, the belts 20 are driven from a shaft 25 which is inturn driven by an electric motor 26, the conveyor belts being guided byguide rollers 21, 28,'and 29, mounted laterally across the structure,these parts being suitably carried on the frame in any well knownmanner. The rollers 22 which extend throughout the conveyor path providerotating support for the conveyor belts. Conventional speed regulatingdevices may be provided for the conveyor and any switch or the like maybe provided to stop and start the conveyor as necessary in order tocontrol the speed and movement of the containers.

As illustrated in Figure 4, each container path is separated initiallyby longitudinal plates 30, and there are side wall plates 32 on eachside of the conveyor. These plates define between them respectively thepaths or channels of movement of the rows of containers and providedefinite separation between the rows. Intermediate the working length ofthe conveyor belts 2D, the separating plates 30 increase in height as at34, extending upwardly to the height of the side walls 32, so thatdefinite separation is provided between the containers of upper tiers ofadjacent rows as well as between those of lower tiers.

After containers of a carton have been inverted at station A they arestacked on the roller table I4 as shown in Figure 3 with the invertedcarton covering them. When suflicient space is clear at the initial endof the conveyor B, an attendant moves the box 38 covering the containersto the left as viewed in Figure 4 from its full to its dotted lineposition, at the same time lifting the box slightly over the plates 30.The plates 30 pass between the four longitudinal rows of containers inthe cartons. When the inverted carton with its containers has been movedonto the conveyor up against the last of the containers already inmovement on the conveyor, the carton is removed and the rows of thecontainers move on with the conveyor.

When the containers reach the point where the plate 30 increases inheight as at 34, a spacer or separator is provided not only between thecontainers of the lower tiers but also between those of upper tiers.

It will be noted from Figures 1 and 4 that the conveyor is suitablyinclined, and beyond the .guide roller 29 (Figure 4) the conveyor takesthe form of a simple bottom plate 40, with the side and separatingplates continuing to define each channel of movement. The movement ofthe containers hereafter is by gravity along the incline and by pressureof following containers as moved by the belts of the initial stage ofthe conveyor. The belts transfer the double tiers of containers onto theinclined plate 40 and their movement is thereafter caused by the gravityaction of the incline as well as the pressure of succeeding containers.However, it would be possible to continue the conveyor belt throughoutthe further stages of the machine. As the stacked containers pass ontothe inclined bottom plate 40, any tendency they may have to creepupwardly is restrained by retainer plates 42 having upwardly curvedforward ends and which are pressed downwardly by springs 44 carriedbetween the retainers and cross bracket members 46 which are suitablysecured across the frame of the machine, there being a spring pressedretainer 42 mounted above each row of containers as shown in Figure 3.The cross brackets 46 are rigidly, carried between upright rods 48rigidly secured to the frame of the machine outside of the side walls 32of the conveyor as shown in Figure 1. The cross brackets 46 are rigidlybolted to and between opposite rods 48, and there are short rodsattached to each retainer plate 42 which extend upwardly and are boltedfor yielding movement through the lower flanges of the brackets 46, aspring being carried on each short rod between the bracket and the upperfaces of the guide plate 42.

When the rows of containers in multiple tiers have been caused to moveonto the inclined lower supporting plate 40, it is desired to separateupper from lower tiers in order to further deploy the containers forindividual treatment. To ac complish these purposes, we have providedmeans in the path of the moving containers for vertically separating thetiers of each row into independent lines, this being done by laterallytilting the containers of the upper tiers, and while tilted and stillsupported by corresponding containers of the lower tiers, forcing themin their movement onto an upper supporting platform which effects theseparation.

Referring to Figures 5, 6, 7, and 10, the tilting operation isaccomplished by distortion or bending of the side channel walls whichdefine the paths of movement for each of the rows of containers.Referring to Figure 5, the upper portion of the outer wall on the nearside of the conveyor is shown bent inwardly as at 56 throughout an arcof relatively small radius. The shape of this indentation issubstantially of inverted cone form as shown in Figure 6, the apex ofthe cone being in ahorizontal plane near that which would pass throughthe bottoms of the containers in the upper tiers. Each of the separatingwall between rows of containers is likewise bent as at 52, 54, and 56,and the far wall of the conveyor is similarly bent outwardly as at 58.Because of the conical form of the indentations, the metal of the wallsis displaced to an increasing degree from normal vertical as the upperedge of the wall is approached, as best shown in Figure 10. The are ofthe upper edge of each wall respectively, as referred to above, is ofgreater length than that of the adjacent wall, but the centers of thesearcs substantially coincide. For this reason, the distorted paths are ofincreasing length from the near to the far side of the machine, asviewed in Figure 5. As stated in connection with distortion 58, theshape of each separating plate and wall where distorted is similar tothat of a section of an inverted cone.

With this arrangement, and when the containers move downwardly throughtheir inclined channels, the distortions in the upper portions of theirguiding plates cause the containers of the upper tiers to be tiltedlaterally of their paths of movement, as shown in Figures '7 and 10, andtheir upwardly tilted bottom sides are forced over the receiving edge 60of an upper container supporting platform or plate 62.

Referring to Figure 8, the upper platform is shown comprising a fiatplate 62 which is suitably secured to extend entirely across the pathsof movement of the rows of containers from one side wall of theapparatus to the other, although the top platform could take the form ofseparate plates welded between each of the guiding walls 58, 52, 54, 56,and 58. The upper platform plate at its engaging edge 60 is providedwith cut-away portions (Figure 8) corresponding in number to the numberof rows of containers accommodated by the conveyor, the deepest side 12of each cut-away portion being on a side of a channel toward which thecontainers are tilted, and being substantially at right angles to theedge 66. The otherside of each cut-away portion is angular as at I4 topresent an engaging edge to the tilted containers which approaches beingat right angles to the direction of their movement at the time they areforced up onto the upper platform. By reason of this construction, theupper platform may be said to present extending tongue portions 16 whichare adapted to engage beneath the tilted side of a container as it isforced onto the platform, thus facilitating the passage of the containerup onto the upper platform 62 over the edge 14.

As illustrated in Figure 5, when the containers have passed throughstage C, the side walls of the channels which define the paths ofmovement of the rows of the containers diverge outwardly as at 86. Thelower tiers of containers move through lower inclined channels while theupper tiers of containers pass along in their upper inclined channels.The provision of the upper supporting platform as a unitary plateextending across all four channels is a matter of constructionalconvenience, and specific details of its arrangement are not necessary.

In Figure 7, certain of the containers have been removed to more clearlyillustrate the operation of the apparatus in tilting the containers andmoving them on to their upper platforms. In the left-hand channelillustrated, all of the containers of both tiers are in place, while inthe other channels certain containers of the upper tiers have beenomitted for illustrative purposes. In the right-hand channel, acontainer 82 is shown approaching the distorted part of the channel, andthe containers which would be normally ahead of 82 have been omitted toshow how the containers in the bottom tier pass under the uppersupporting plate 62. In the second channel from the left, the container84 is shown at a further stage of its movement, same having passedbetween the distorted portions 52 and 54 of the upper guide plate. Itwill be noted that this container has not been tilted sufficiently torest against wall 54, its center of gravity still urging it towardupright position while it is kept tilted by wall portion 52. Thecontainer 84 is tilted from its upright position while still resting onthe corresponding container below it in the lower tier, and its righthand upwardly tilted lower edge (Figure 7) is positioned so as to passabove the extending tongue 16 of that portion of the upper platformwhich is within this channel. When free of the influence of thedistorted wall 52, the tendency of the container 84 will be to rightitself and in so doing to move up onto the upper platform 62. In thethird channel from the right a further stage of progress is illustratedwherein the right-hand or tilted bottom edge of the container 86 hasalready moved up onto the receiving edge of that portion of the upperplatform between the channel walls 54 and 56.

Referring again to Figure 7, it will be understood that the action ofthe tilted containers, when free of the influence of the distorted wall52 and upon returning to their upright positions as they move forwardly,will be to roll over the edge 14 of the receiving platform on theircurved forward portions of their bottom edges, said containers beingguided in this rolling action by the return bend in the side walldefining their path of movement opposite to the distorted wall 52.

Referring to Figure 6, it will be observed that the four rows ofcontainers have now been vertically separated into independent lines sothat there are now eight lines of containers moving toward the treatingapparatus. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, there is in each line aconventional can-twisting device 90 comprising generally spirallydisposed bars or slats 92 which cause the containers in their movementtherethrough, to be changed from substantially upright position tosubstantially horizontal position with their axes extending laterallyacross the overall path of movement of the containers. The terminal endof the twisting device joins with a further gravity conveyor which leadsto the treating machine. There are four openings 94 in the entrance endof the final conveyor section to receive the ends of each of thetwisting devices for the four upper lines of the containers. At theseopenings, the containers roll along a short plate 96 and drop off of thefinal edge thereof onto the floor 90 of the final conveyor section,there being metal spring members I which guide the containers from theupper lines downwardly to join those of the lower lines. Similarly, thelower twisting devices lead to four openings I02 respectively belowopenings 94 and through which the lower lines of containers rolldirectly onto the floor 93 of the final conveyor mechanism. By thisarrangement, upper and lower lines of rolling containers are joinedtogether into the same rolling line which passes toward the treatingmachine.

Adjacent the outlet end of the final conveyor mechanism, there is anoscillating top plate I04 of any convenient construction which is biaseddownwardly by a suitable spring I06 attached to the frame of theapparatus, the forward end of the plate I04 being suitably pivoted as atI06. By means of a lever mechanism shown in Figure 1, which is operatedby a cam IIO rotated by power taken from the treating apparatus, thespring-held plate I04-is reciprocated about its pivot I08 to force anycontainers which may be riding in a double bank downwardly onto thefloor 98 of this section of the conveyor in order that they may passuniformly to the final end of the conveyor section. As shown in Figure5, the final conveyor section is composed of four channels separated bysuitable longitudinal walls II2, the containers rolling out of eachchannel in single lines.

The container transfer and inverting mechanism at station A (Figure 2)is shown in detail in Figures 11 through 16. The device itself is shownin Figure 11, while Figures 13 through 16 are diagrammatic illustrationsof its manner of operation.

The transfer and inverting device is mounted on a rectangular supportingopen frame I20 having side and end members as shown in Figure 11, and itcomprises receiving and discharge cradles which are adapted to be tiltedtoward and from one another to accomplish the transfer and inversion ofa carton. The receiving cradle is shown on the right in Figure 11,including a rectangular frame I24 which constitutes a base or platformtogether with the freely movable rollers I26 mounted between the endmembers of the frame. The cartons with their open ends presentedupwardly are fed onto the platform from the conveyor I0. The receivingcradle rests on the frame I20 by means of wheel I28 which are pivoted tobrackets I30 depending from opposite side members I3I of the frame I24,these wheels being adapted to ride in trackways I32 extending longi- Theplatform formed by the frame I24 and rollers I26 is one leg of thetransfer device, and it is normally in the horizontal position of Figure11. The pivot wheels I26 are mounted on the side frame members I3Icloser to their inner than to their outer ends, to insure stability ofa. carton when received on the cradle platform.

The discharge cradle is shown at the left in Figure 11, and it likewiseincludes a rectangular frame I34 carrying freely movable rollers I36 andforming therewith the discharge base or platform. This platform ispivoted intermediate the ends of its side members I35 as at I40 to afixed bracket I42 attached to the frame member I20, and it comprises theother leg of the car- 'ton transfer and inverting device. It is alsonormally in the horizontal position of Figure 11. The fixed pivot I40 iscloser to the inner than to the outer ends of side frame members I35 toinsure the stability of a carton when on the platform.

The inner end of the frame of the discharge platform carries normallyvertically disposed connecting members I44 at each side thereof as bestshown in Figure 12, while the frame member I3I of the receiving cradlealso has opposite upwardly extendin inner end connecting members I46which normally lie along the outside of the members I44 and insubstantially the same vertical plane laterally of the direction oftransfer. The upper ends of the members I44 and I46 are pivoted togetheras at I48, and around their pivot is a free roller I60 which assists inthe easy transfer of the carton from one cradle to the other. Theupright members I44 and I46 constitute the connecting legs of thereceiving and discharge cradles, and cause one cradle to tilt the other.

The manner of operation of the transfer mechanism is shown in Figures 13through 16. In Figure 13, the carton is shown as it is received on therollers I26, and it will be noted that the leg I 46 is of such lengthand rollers I26 are of sufficient diameter so that the lower edge of thecarton is at an elevation above the discharge platform I34. The cartonhaving arrived at the transfer point, the combined transfer andinverting operation is manually controlled by an attendant pullingoutwardly on handles I49 and giving them a slight upward tiltingmovement around the pivot rollers I26. These movements cause the rollersI28 to move to the right along tracks I32 as viewed in Figure 13, andthe separation of pivot point I20 from pivot point I40 permits downwardmovement of the upper pivot I48. When pivot I40 starts to movedownwardly (Figure 14), the weight of the carton is exerted on theroller I50 which extends around the pivot I48, and thus the downwardmovement of the pivot I48 is accelerated and the operator is assisted inthe transfer of the carton by the weight of the carton itself. When thedevice has completely collapsed as shown in Figure 15, the upper pivotI43 is a substantial distance below the frame I20 and pivots I28 andI40, and the platforms I24 and I34 of the cradles are in a substantiallyvertical position, whereas the connecting legs I44 and I46 are insubstantially horizontal position below the frame I20. In this position,legs I44 and I46 form with the roller I50, the lower support for the endof the carton. It will be evident that the members I24, I34, I44 and I46move downwardly around their pivots between tudinally along the frameI20 as later described. 76 the side rails of the frame I 20.

when a carton has reached the position shown in Figure 15, theoperations described above are reversed to invert it onto the dischargeplatform I34. To accomplish this reverse operation, the attendantpullsoutwardly on handles I49 as viewed in Figure 15, at the same timeexerting a downward pivotal motion around the pivot consttiuted by therollers I28. As the leg I24 moves outwardly and pivots around itsintermediate pivot I20, the pivot I48 and roller I50 are moved upwardlyaround fixed pivot point I40 until the entire mechanism is above theframe I20 but with the carton inverted in the discharge cradle as shownin Figure 16. During this return operation, and by reason of the factthat the inner leg I44 of the discharge cradle is of greater length thanthe inner leg I40 of the receiving cradle, the carton will be held onthe discharge cradle, as the roller I50 will support the carton to theright of its center line as viewed in Figure thus tilting it to the leftas viewed in that figure.

By means of the handle I54, force may be applied to tilt the dischargecradle upwardly and downwardly around its pivot to assist in theoperations previously described.

As shown in Figure 11, the discharge cradle may carry a side guard I52which acts as a barrier to prevent cartons from falling off of thecradle. This guard has a curved end I53 which engages one of the sideframe members I3I oi the receiving cradle when the cradles are tiltedupwardly, and acts as a spacer to prevent the cradles from excessivetilting toward one another. The handle I54 on the discharge cradle mayalso serve as a barrier for the cartons. The receiving cradle alsocarries side guards I55 to properly position and retain cartons thereon.

It will be apparent that we have evolved methods and designed apparatusof marked simplicity for handling containers for the purposes described.It will also be evident that various changes may be made in the methodsand apparatus without departing from the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for handling lots of superimposed containers which arearranged in upright position one upon another in a row, comprisingconveyor means defining a path of movement for the upright containers ina direction substantially parallel to that of the row, said conveyormeans having a lower supporting platform on which the containers of alower tier are carried, an upper supporting platform for an upper tierof containers having a container receiving end in said path of movement,and means adjacent the container receiving end of said platform forsuccessively tilting the containers of the upper tier laterally of saidpath of movement and during a limited period of such move-' ment, thereceiving end of said upper supporting platform having an extendingtongue to engage beneath the tilted portions of the containers of theupper tier to effect their transfer to said upper platform when saidcontainers return to their upright positions.

2. Apparatus for handling lots of superimposed containers which arearranged in upright position one upon another in a row, comprisingconveyor means defining a path of movement for the upright containers ina direction substantially parallel to that of the row, said conveyormeans having a lower supporting platform on which the containers of alower tier are carried, an upper supporting platform for an upper tierof containers having a container receiving end in said path of movement,and means adjacent the container receiving end of said platform forsuccessively tilting the containers of the upper tier laterally of theirdirection of movement and during a limited period of such movement tosuch position that one side edge of the bottom of a container of theupper tier is supported on the top of the corresponding container of thelower tier with the opposite side edge of the bottom of such containerspaced from the top of said corresponding container of the lower tier,the receiving end of said upper supporting platform having an edge whichis diagonally disposed with respect to the direction of movement of saidcontainer whereby to receive the said supported side bottom edges of thecontainers of the upper tier to effect their transfer to said upperplatform when said containers of the upper tier return to their uprightpositions.

3. Apparatus for handling lots of superimposed containers which arearranged in upright position one upon another in a row, comprisingconveyor means defining a path of movement for the upright containers ina direction substantially parallel to that of the row, said conveyormean having a lower supporting platform on which the containers of alower tier are carried, said conveyor means having deflectors in saidpath of movement for tilting a container of the upper tier laterally ofits direction of movement and for thereafter returning it to its normalupright position, and an upper supporting plat form for containershaving receiving means which passes between said containers when that ofthe upper tier is tilted to effect transfer of the container of theupper tier to the upper platorm.

4. Conveyor apparatus for a row of superim- I posed containers stackedone on another, comprising a bottom platform on which the containers ofthe lower tier move, and side guide plates which define the path ofmovement of the containers in the upper tier, said guide plates havingcurved portions positioned to successively engage and tilt thecontainers of the upper tier laterally of their direction of movementand to thereafter cause their return to upright positions, and an uppersupporting platform having means to engage beneath the tilted portionsof the containers of the upper tier to effect their transfer to theupper platform as they are returned to upright positions by said guideplates.

5. Apparatus for deploying lots of superimposed containers which arestacked in substantially upright position in rows having upper and lowertiers with the bottoms of the containers of the upper tier resting onthe tops of the respective containers of the lower tier, comprising aconveyor providing for bodily moving the containers in a forwarddirection at substantially right angles to their upright axes, aplatform for supporting the containers of the upper tier having anengaging edge positioned in the path of movement of the containers at anelevation just above the tops of the containers of the lower tier, andtilting means located in the path of movement of the containersimmediately in advance of the engaging edge of said supporting platformfor successively tilting the upper ends of the containers of the uppertier laterally of their path of movement to an angle suflicient toelevate one side bottom edge of said upper tier containers above theengaging edge of said platform as said containers approach and pass 11said engaging edge, said tilting means providing for the return of thecontainers of the upper tier to their upright positions as they passsaid engaging edge whereby to transfer and support the containers of theupper tier on said platform.

6. Apparatus for deploying lots of superimposed containers which arestacked in substantially upright position in rows having upper and lowertiers with the bottoms of the containers of the upper tier resting onthe tops of the respective containers of the lower tier, comprising aconveyor providing for bodily moving the containers in a forwarddirection at substantially right angles to their upright axes, aplatform for supporting the containers of the upper tier having anengaging edge positioned in the path of movement of the containers at anelevation just above the tops of the containers of the lower tier, andtilting means located in the path of movement of the containersimmediately in advance of the engaging edge of said supporting platformfor successively tilting the upper ends of the containers of the uppertier laterally of their path of movement to an angle suflicient toelevate one side bottom edge of said upper tier containers above theengaging edge of said platform as said containers approach and pass saidengaging edge, and means adjacent the engaging edge of said platform forreturning the containers of the upper tier to their upright positionsand simultaneously rolling them up onto said platform along the tiltedportions of their forward bottom edges.

7. Apparatus for handling lots of superimposed containers which arearranged in upright position one upon another in a row, comprisingconveyor means defining a path of movement for the upright containers ina direction substantially parallel to that of the row, said conveyormeans having a lower supporting platform on which the containers of alower tier are carried, an upper supporting platform for an upper tierof containers having a container receiving end in said path of movement,and means adjacent the container receiving end of said platform fortilting the containers of the upper tier laterally of said path ofmovement and for retaining same in tilted position for a limited periodof their 12 movement, said upper supporting platform having means at thereceiving end thereof to engage beneath the tilted portions of thecontainers during said limited period of movement to separate them fromthe containers of the lower tier.

8. Apparatus for handling lots of superimposed containers which arearranged in upright position one upon another in a row, comprisingconveyor means defining a path of movement for the upright containers ina direction substantially parallel to that of the row, said conveyormeans having a lower supporting platform on which the containers of alower tier are carried, and an upper supporting platform for an uppertier of containers having a container receiving end in said path ofmovement, said conveyor means having side walls throughout a portion ofits length to guide and support the stacked containers, said wallshaving means adjacent the container receiving end of said platform fortilting containers of an upper tier laterally of their path of movementand for retaining same in tilted position for a limited period of theirmovement, said receiving end of said upper platform being positioned toreceive the tilted containers to separate them from the containers ofthe lower tier.

IVAN F. FINSBERG.

GOITFRIED E. HUBE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

